NWUUC SOLAR ARRAY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

In our best Unitarian Universalist tradition, we hereby affirm the power of one individual, one family and one group of dedicated people to make a significant and lasting change.  We declare that we can make a difference; that Northwest can make a difference, and that this faith community can be a leader among all faith communities in restructuring our lives to put an end to the continued destruction of our planet.  We propose to install a solar-electric array on the sanctuary roof of NWUUC (a roof which is ideally angled to catch the maximum solar energy) enabling us to become energy-neutral, and thereby become an exemplar to the Atlanta faith community and beyond.  Not only will this gift save the church thousands of dollars each year, but it will be tangible evidence of our commitment to this important social justice issue.

This proposition raises many legitimate questions:

Question 1.          How will our solar array work?

A.        The solar panels convert light into DC electricity.  This DC is turned into AC by inverters.  This electrical power is then sent to an electric meter which measures the power produced by the array.  From the meter the electricity flows into the electric "grid" for use by everyone.  Georgia Power pays NWUUC at higher "green energy" rates for all the power produced by the array.

A.        Georgia Power will currently pay 17.4 cents per kilowatt hour produced by the array.  Each solar panel will earn about $80.00/year for Northwest.  A full array of 120 panels will earn about $9,600.00 for Northwest.  Our current annual electric bill is approximately $4,200.00. So, not only do we do away with that expense, but we may actually generate about $5000 annual income for the church.

A.        In addition to the previously stated economic and environmental benefits, the primary benefit of a solar panel array is to be able to promote NWUUC as a model for mitigating the environmental impact of its electrical energy usage.  We'll be able to influence other congregations, and possibly increase membership, by promoting our example of moving toward total energy sustainability and zero "carbon footprint".

A.        When added to our efforts to more aggressively conserve energy (which we are currently beginning to implement), a full array of 120 high-efficiency panels on the sanctuary roof could produce electricity equal to 100% of our usage, thereby fully mitigating our electrical energy "carbon footprint".

A.        Many scientists and experts agree that the earth will soon reach a "tipping point" which will forever alter our climate and the livability of all Earth's ecosystems.  Humankind and most other species will be enormously affected.  A great many species which are less adaptable than humans (and cockroaches) will become extinct as a result of  the actions of the human species.  Among humankind, societies which are already living in marginal areas will be severely affected by drought, rising water, and other effects of climate change.  These dire scenarios are not yet certain, or inevitable, but they will very probably occur if humans ignore the evidence and continue to live irresponsibly.  We have the ability to live “sustainably”.  The time to begin aggressive re-evaluation of our lifestyles has passed.  If we don't act now, it will soon be too late to halt severe consequences for the "interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part."

Question 6.          Who pays for the system and how much will it cost?

A.        The total cost of the system will be divided into a number of “shares” roughly equivalent to the number of panels to be installed. If necessary, we can divide this project into three phases with approximately 40 panels, or shares, per phase.  Each share costs approximately $1400-1500.   Members and friends of Northwest will donate shares which will cover all costs.  There will be no charge to any NWUUC budget.

A.        Pledges for panels will only be accepted with the promise that donations will not affect planned giving to the church.  It should be noted that the highly successful capital campaign to “burn the mortgage” did not negatively impact this year’s pledges.

A.        We are encouraging folks who are unable to donate a full panel/share immediately to donate one-third of a panel/share per year for three years.  These “third shares” will be combined so that panels can be purchased immediately.  We realize there will be others who may not be able to afford even that amount, and of course we will accept any donations offered.

A.        Each “share” will include many costs in addition to the actual panels, such as wiring, electric meter, inverters, tree removal, mounting costs, installation and installer's overhead and profit. There should not be any hidden costs.

Question 10.      What modifications to the church will be needed and what happens if we build a new sanctuary?

A.        There will be some additional wiring from the array to a new meter to be mounted next to the existing meter.  No modifications to the roof of the sanctuary are necessary.

It is important to note that this system is entirely portable. If we decide to move someday, or build a new sanctuary, the whole system is easily transferable to the new building or can be taken down and kept in storage.

A.            Technically, no.  However, we propose to remove about 4 large pine trees and one oak tree around the back of the sanctuary which cast the most shade over the sanctuary roof.  By removing the trees we will substantially increase the efficiency of the solar array.

A.        Simply viewing this project on $$ per watt is shortsighted.  Our Energy Independence project offers an opportunity for Northwest to take a leading role in the religious community by becoming a resource on the issue of energy and conservation throughout metro Atlanta, Georgia and all UU congregations. With that role will come opportunities for free media coverage. In addition to “mainstream” media outreach, this project will be highlighted on YouTube and GoogleVideos and will function as free public relations material to introduce area environmentalists to our congregation.

Failure to arrive at a timely decision may seriously jeopardize the potential marketing and public relations opportunities that this project offers, and therefore a valuable opportunity to grow the congregation and energize current members may be missed.

In addition to environmental and public relations/outreach benefits, failing to act sends a message to the congregation that our principles serve as a guide for discussions but do not impact our actions. It is imperative that we are not seen as a congregation that talks too much and never takes any significant action to support UU principles.  Many of us believe this project (along with our goal of reaching 100% sustanabilty) has ignited the passions of a significant number of our congregants and may form the cornerstone of a lasting “vision” for NorthWest.

A.        Sign a promissory note for a panel/share, more than one panel/share, or a portion of a panel/share. Express your support to other members. Vote in favor of the project when asked.

A.        The shingles on the sanctuary are less than 10 years old and should last another 20 years so we will not need to remove and install new shingles.

A.        David Zenner (who is a registered architect) has carefully calculated the load capacity of our sanctuary roof and has determined that even with multiple layers of shingles and a new solar array, the roof is plenty strong and will not need to be modified.  According to Dave, the current roof can support 33 lbs/sq ft, and the total load including the panels would only be 17 lbs/sq ft.

A.        Yes.  Georgia Power calls most energy which is not produced by coal-fired power plants "green energy" (including natural gas-produced electricity). Since solar power is fueled by the sun, as opposed to non-renewable sources like petroleum, there is no "greener" energy than that produced by solar panels.

A.        The panels and components are guaranteed for 25 years.  Various components could be replaced as they wear out.

A.        A small annual maintenance charge will be required for annual inspection and optimization of the array.  This charge can be funded from the revenue generated by the array.  The other routine maintenance requirement is bi-annual cleaning of the array which can be accomplished by NWUUC volunteers.

A.        The array can be installed in phases.  The installers will come out to install as few as 5-10 panels at a time as panels/shares are donated.

A.        As of July, 2008 approximately 25 panels/shares have been pledged.

A.        Yes.  Checks will be made payable to Northwest, which is a non-profit organization.

A.            Actually, the proposed array will cover almost the entire sanctuary roof.  One of the hidden benefits of the array is that it will almost completely shade the roof from sunlight which will have a much greater effect in reducing heat gain than the 5 trees which now partially shade the roof.

A.        Yes, trees farther from the array will partially block early morning and late afternoon sunlight.  We have been told that our array will therefore produce about 80% as much electricity as it would if we were in an open field.

A.        The Earth Ministry has received proposals from six vendors.  We are confident that the vendor we choose will be very cost competitive.

A.        There has been a lot of speculation in the media that dramatic increases in solar panel production will result in lower prices in the future.  However, the industry is seeing demand rising at an even faster rate than production, especially for higher efficiency panels.  This trend is currently resulting in rising panel costs.  It is difficult to say when and if panel costs will actually begin to drop.

A.            Actually we have received one proposal to use new panels based on thin-film technology.  It turns out that the total costs for panels based on thin-film technology are the same as for high-efficiency panels but the efficiencies of the thin-film panels are only about 40% of the silicon high-efficiency panels.  Therefore, the installed cost-per- kilowatt-produced is actually higher for thin-film panels than for the current state-of-the-art silicon technology.

A.        Grants may be available, and will be requested, from both G.I.P.L. and U.U.A.

A.        The payback from the installation of the array is not only financial.  The primary reason for the array is to set an example of positive action toward energy neutrality, and to contribute to a healthier planet.  From a purely financial perspective, the panels could produce revenue for the church equal to their cost to the donors in about 15 to 18 years, at current energy rates and with typical inflation rates.

A.        There are many things the church can do, both major and minor changes that will move us toward complete sustainability.  The Earth Ministry and the Buildings and Grounds Ministry have begun to explore and implement some of those changes through an energy audit conducted by Georgia Interfaith Power and Light ("GIPL") of which Northwest is a member.  As funding becomes available, we will continue to implement the initiatives which are financially feasible.  However, none of the major initiatives can produce the far-reaching impact (either socially or environmentally) that can be achieved by moving to energy neutrality through the solar array.

A.        The NWUUC array could save over 1,000 tons of CO2 which would otherwise be emitted by coal-burning power plants in Georgia over a 25-year period.

A.        The only foreseeable impact of the array on the sanctuary would be that it will be easier to cool the sanctuary because of the shading affect of the panels.  This will further reduce our current energy usage.  Other than that there should be no physical impact.

A.            According to GIPL, no other churches in the Atlanta region  have been able to muster the internal consensus to implement an array, although several churches are attempting to do so.  This is an area where NW could show real leadership.

A.        The Earth Ministry has been asked by representatives of the Board of Trustees to seek consensus from at least 80% of the congregation approving the installation of the array.  Upon approval by the congregation, donations toward panel/shares will be made by individual members and friends. The array will ultimately constitute a gift to Northwest.  In all likelihood, the installation of the array would proceed in phases as funding gifts are received.

A.        It is desirable that as many people as possible have an opportunity to participate in donating the array.  Toward that end, contributions toward partial panel/shares will be accepted and combined with other partial shares to fund whole panel/shares.  Panels will most likely be purchased and installed in groups of as few as 5-10 panels at a time.

Question 36.      The law of unintended consequences always comes into play. A few years ago bio-fuels were going to be our salvation. And now we have spiraling food prices, caused in part by this added demand. Some scientists are concerned that massive wind farms and solar arrays subtly change the ecosystem around them. With this in mind, we asked “What are the environmental impacts of the solar panel's life cycle? How much energy does it take to make them? What hazardous wastes are produced as part of the manufacturing cycle? How are they disposed of or recycled at the end of their useful life?”

A.        "At least 89% of air pollution associated with electricity generation could be prevented if power from solar photovoltaics (PV) displaces conventional sources of energy on the grid. In addition, the PV industry follows a pro-active, long-term environmental strategy involving recycling and waste management to prevent environmental damage. For more information on the environmental sustainability of solar energy, please see the following link to a study by Brookhaven National Lab and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL):"

http://www.pv.bnl.gov/keystone.htm

and a recent Science News article about it:

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20080301/fob5.asp

http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2008/42/i06/abs/es071763q.html